Q: Good morning, Seeking advice. Our landlord filed a financial case against our so called bounced cheque. However, we left the old flat, and they are still holding our PDC and kept on sending it to the bank. Hoping you can help us.

Q: I was a resident of Sharjah and was staying in a 2 BHK apartment. As I was looking for a furnished apartment on rent for a short span of 6 months only, the landlord denied to make the agreement but verbally decided to accept the rent upfront each month and asked for 1-month rent as security. I objected to giving any security deposit but promised to pay rent at the beginning of each month and gave him a cheque with 1-month rent amount if I don’t make the payment at the beginning of the month but not a security deposit. Due to living with the family, I had to look for another option I moved to a new apartment before the new month started. Now, the landlord is asking for rent for the month in which I’m not going to stay and threatening me to deposit the cheque of AED 1,600/- and get the cheque bounced and take legal action to put me behind the bar. I have paid AED 1,000/- for utility in advance for which bill was generated as AED 640/- only. What are the legal ways to come out of this??

Q: Good day, I have given a cheque amounting to the full rent value for 1 year as per my landlord's requirement. I just renewed my contract for the 2nd time, however, I am requesting for an early termination due to the transfer of my work location. But the landlord says I cannot refund the remaining rent amount even after 2-months notice which is about 7 months and the amount is more or less AED29,000+.

Q: Dear Lawyers, I have served an eviction notice to my tenant, and he vacated the property 2 months before the eviction's maturity date, as the lease had expired. I now wish to return his security deposit following his eviction, with the request that the tenant confirms that the lease agreement is canceled. However, he is unwilling to confirm this via e-mail. Can I withhold the security deposit until he confirms via e-mail that he has officially vacated the apartment and that the lease is canceled with no future obligations between the landlord and tenant? Can I ask him to return?

The relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated in Dubai by Law No. 33 of 2008 Concerning the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. The arising rental disputes are referred to Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (“RDSC”) created by Decree No. 26 of 2013 to reconcile between the parties and reach an amicable settlement or seek a final judgment issued and enforced by the RDSC.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

The provisions of this Decree by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.